Black Lives Matter: From a Moment to a Movement

This concise yet comprehensive reference book provides an overview of the Black Lives Matter movement from its emergence in response to the police-involved deaths of unarmed black people to its development as a force for racial justice in America.This much-needed reference text places the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement within the broader context of the African American struggle for equality in America from the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s to the violent protests against white supremacy that took place in Charlottesville in 2017. Specific topics include the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 which gave rise to the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter; the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson Missouri in 2014 which launched the rise of the movement; and the fatal shootings of police officers in Dallas Texas and Baton Rouge Louisiana in 2016 which sparked bitter backlash. It also covers the virulent alt-right backlash against BLM and the ways in which BLM leaders are responding to the challenge.Features of the book include an introduction; seven topical chapters covering the historical background to origin and growth of and backlash against the Black Lives Matter movement; and a conclusion. In addition ten biographical snapshots cover key individuals involved with the movement and eight primary source documents further illuminate issues discussed in the text. Other features include a timeline an annotated bibliography and a subject index.Provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the origin growth and development of the Black Lives Matter movementExplores how modern activists employ social media as a force for social changeExamines the emergence of white supremacy and white nationalism as a part of a cultural backlash against the Black Lives Matter movementPresents current information and statistics on racial injustice in AmericaExplores how the civil rights movement Black Power movement and hip-hop culture have shaped and influenced the fight for racial justice